Oil burner



June 30, 1925.

A. C. BENNETT OIL BURNER Filed March 26, 1924 m Q i -22 Adv/c 7// ZMW Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES ASHLEY C. BENNETT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

OIL BURNER.

Application filed March 26, 1924. Serial No. 701,992.

v To all whom, 2'25 may 0071061'7bf.

Be it known that 1, ASHLEY C. BENNETT, a citizen iof the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Oil Burners; and I do hereby declare :the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert zins to make and use the same.

My invention makes a marked improvement in oil burners; The improved burner,

while capable of very general use, has nevertheless been especially designed for the economical use of oil and high heating elficiency in hot Water heaters, boilers and. furnaces, such as used in the heating of dwellings and other buildings.

The economical burning of oil and high heating efliciency requires certain conditions, the most important of which may be noted as (a) mechanical vaporization of the oil, (6) proper regulation of the air and oil supplies, timely and thorough commingling of the air and oil vapors, and (d) substantially perfect distribution of the commingled air and oil vapors throughout the commingling zone and before reaching the flashing point.

Experience has shown. that the application of sufiicient heat to vaporize hydrocarbon oils Within a pipe or other container will produce carbon deposits, which, in the course of no very great length of time, will reduce and finally destroy the efiiciency of i any oil-generating and burning apparatus.

The heavier the oil used as fuel, the more true is the above statement. Hence, high efliciency demands mechanical, as distinguished from thermal, vaporization of the oil.

My invention is primarily directed to an extremely simple and highly eflicient means for, first, mechanically vaporizing the oil, and, second, in thoroughly commingling the oil vapor with the air.

Hitherto, rotary fans or propeller-like air and oil mixing devices have been placed in the air intake pipes of oil burners, but such have been arranged to perform only the function of an agitator or dasher. My invention makes a radical departure from the old manner of using the rotary dasher or agitator and thereby not only increases the efiiciency thereof but also the functions performed thereby. More specifically stated, my lnvention, in its preferred embodiment, involves a rotary sprayer head and a surrounding casing, the two cooperating-has an impact reaction air turbine, combined with an oil delivery conduit terminating in a nozzle arranged to deliver the oil to said sprayer head and to cause the oil, on its passage through the nozzle, to keep the spinlle or journal of the sprayer head lubricate The above noted features and other highly important features will be more fullydescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the improved burner connected to a fan or blower;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, on theirregular line 22 of Fig. 3, out with some parts in full;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the burner on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3.

The commercial burner illustrated in the drawings comprises a flame bowl 6, preferably having a replaceable fire clay lining 7 and provided with a large axial air passage formed in a depending sleeve 8, which latter is connected to the discharge end of a large air pipe 9 extended from a fan or blower 10. The blower 10 will be power-driven, referably by a small electric motor, an of course, the blower will be outside of the furnace, while the flame bowl 6 will be properly positioned within the furnace or combustion chamber of the heater.

The oil or fluid fuel will be delivered to the burner in any suitable way, but preferably through a fuel pipe 11 extended from an elevated tank or any other suitable source of supply. In the construction illustrated, this pipe 11 connects to a tube 12 cast integral with the sleeve 8 and extended radially inward to the axis thereof, where it is coupled to the depending stem 13 of an upright tubular nozzle 14. The threaded lower end of the stem 13 is provided with a cap nut 15 tightly screwed against the inner end of the tube 12. -Screwed into the upper end of the nozzle 14: is a bearing plug 16 having a plurality of small oil discharge passages 17 located eccentric to its axis. In its lower portion, the nozzle 14 is shown A as provided with an L-shaped oil duct 18 this invention is concerned, but tor highly is clampe important reasons, it is made substantially as shown in the drawings, and as there shown, comprises a lower plate 21 and an upper plate 22, both of which may be of light stamped sheet metal. The upper'plate 22, at its axis, is rigidly connected to the upper end of a small depending spindle 23 that rotates freely in an axial passage of the bearing plug 16 and has a conical lower end seated in a conical step bearing formed at the axis ofthe bearing web 19. The lower plate 21 has a quite large axial passage 2 L formed by an upturned axial flange spaced with large clearance around the nozzle 14; and here it is important tonote that the nozzle is provided with an inverted bowllike oil-distributing plate 25 of considerably greater diameter thanthe flanged passage 24, so that it will deliver the oil directly onto the lower late 21. This plate '25, as shown," 'to the upper end of the nozzle by the flanged upper end of the plug 16. The main body portion of the lower plate 21 is substantially flat and horizontally disposed, but the body of the upper plate 22 is 'of inverted concavo convex or bowl-like form. The perimeters of the two plates 21 and 22 are brought close together and rigidly connected by screws 26, but are slightly spaced by spacing blocks 27 (see particularly Figs. 4 and 5, by reference to which it will be noted that said screws 26, at their lower ends, are shown as sorewed into a clamping ring 28, which clamping ring 28, of course, constitutes a part of the sprayer head). The ring 24 is provided with circumferentially spaced depending propeller vanes or blades 29 that are set obliquely, as best shown in Fig. 2, and, as there illustrated, are arranged to cause the sprayer head to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in respectto Fig. 2, under the action of the air blast from the blower. To assist in causing the sprayer head to rotate in the direction noted, the plates 21 and 22 are provided with upwardly pressed oblique propelling vanes 21 and 22; and, obviously, the pressing of these-vanes from the bodies of said plates forms air passages through the said plates, which fact is also important, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

As already indicated, the rotary sprayer head is arranged to run within an enclosing casing. This casing, as preferably designed,

comprises a dome-like top, 30 formed with a depending cylindrical flange 31 that rests on the bottom of the bowl 6 and is concentrically spaced outward of the sprayer head. This flange 31 is formed with oblique air passages 32 that are preferably tangential to the interior of said flange. Here it is important to note that these air passages 32 are oblique in a direction common to the oblique vanes 29 of the sprayer head. Also, it

will be understood that the portions of the flange 31 that are between the air passages '32 serve as fixed vanes, against which the vapor-laden air discharged from the sprayer head will be dashed. lit will be understood that when the vapor-laden air discharged from the sprayer head strikes the immediately surrounding vanes or blades of the easing 30 and before it can pass out through the passages 32 it must not only change its course and will be violently dashed about, increasing the thoroughness of the mixture, but the said fixed blades afford abutments against which the expanding air reacts, thus increasing the driving force thereof on the sprayer head, For the above reasons it is important that the said passages 32 and intervening vanes be located in the plane of discharge of oil or oil vapor from the sprayer head. Also, the fact that the air in producing its propelling action on the sprayer head moves in part radially outward and in part upward through the sprayer head and thereafter radially outward produces a large number of constantly moving and continuously intersecting streams of air with the oil vapor, which, of course, facilitates rapid and complete mixture of the oil and air. As a simple means of setting the casing concentrically around the sprayer head, small pins 33 are projected from the bottom of the bowl 6; and as a convenient means for lifting the casing from working position when desired and for placing the same, the dome 30 is shown as provided on its top with a perforated lift lug 34.

Summary of operation.

The blast from the fan, delivered through the air pipe 9 and upward through the aiiy intake sleeve 8, will, of course, strike the rotary sprayer headwith considerable force, and a part of this air will be deflected outward against and between the propelling vanes 29, but much of the air will pass upward through the axial passage and the circumferentially spaced passages of the two plates 21 and 22. The air, in striking the propelling vanes 29, 21' and 22 will. cause the propelled head to rotate in the direction already stated, to wit: in a counter-clockwise direction in respect to Fig. 2. The pri-.

propelling action, however, is promary duced bythe action of the air on the propeller blades 29, and this propelling action is increased by the reaction from the discharge of air against the fixed vanes of the surrounding casing, due to the fact that the air does not shoot directly out through the passages 32 but, upon striking the fixed vanes, must change its course. This latter noted action also performs another and highly important function, to wit: by intercepting and reversing the numerous currents of air laden with oil vapor, the most tlioroughand even commingling of the air and oil vapors is insured.

The oil will, of course, be continuously fed and discharged from the upper end of the nozzle through the oil duct 17 and, by the spreader plate 25, will be delivered on the lower plate 21 of the rotary sprayer head. This delivery of the oil obviously keeps the spindle of the rotary-head well lubricated and, in fact, the said spindle is caused to run in oil. The oil delivered onto the plate 21 will, under the action of centrifugal force, be rapidly spread into a thin film, which becomes thinner and thinner as it approaches the perimeter of'said plate,

and any oil not vaporized while on-the plate will be thrown violently from the sprayer head and dashed against the fixed vanes of the surrounding casing.

It is important to note that this improved sprayer head does not act simply as a dasher but as an oil receptacle, spreader and vaporizer, for it catches all of the oil, spreads the same in a film of decreasing thickness, much of which will be vaporized within the sprayer head, and discharges from the periphery of the head, under hi h velocity, any unvaporized particles. Sue 1 a sprayer head will work when arranged to rotate either on a verticle or a horizontal axis, but the best results will be obtained by arranging the same to rotate on a horizontal axis. This later statement is especially true in the application of the burner to house-heating furnaces or heaters. Considerable of the air passes upward through the chamber formed in the sprayer head between the plates 21 and 22and, hence, will pick up much of the oil within the head itself, and such vapor-laden currents of air will, of course, be commingled with the other vaporladen currents.

The vapor, and especially any oil particles not completely vaporized, will be thrown from the periphery of the rotary sprayer head on lines tangential thereto and in a forward direction in respect to the direction of rotation of said head. These vapors or unvaporized oil particles cannot pass directly or unobstructedly out through the passages 82 of the casing, but must change their course and, hence, the numerous streams or currents will be thoroughly intermingled and will be dashed. against the casing and thoroughly mixed with the air currents and will be completely absorbed thereby. The very best kind of vaporization and commingling of oil vapor and air is thus produced.

Moreover, the vapor-laden air will bedischarged from the tangential air passages 32 under considerable velocity and numerous different points and the various streams will set-up a violent whirling ,or cyclonic action against the interior of the bowl lining. The initial combustion will take place outside of the casing but within the bowl and the whirling action not only concentrates the flames against the bowl lining but produces the most intense and complete combustion.

These various and combined vaporizing and commingling actions, as is obvious and as has been demonstrated in actual practice, produce the most thorough and even coinmingling and distribution of air and the 011 vapors. Moreover, it is highly important to note these two important facts already 1ndicated, to wit: first, that the oil will be kept comparatively cool and far below the vaporizing point until it has been discharged out of the nozzle and into the sprayer head, and, second, that the thorough commingling of the air and oil*is accomplished before the vapor-laden air reaches the flashing or combustion point, which, it will be understood, is entirely outside of the casing but within the flame bowl. The first feature prevents formation and deposits of carbon, and the second feature insures most even intense and complete combustion, which is initiated in the flame bowl and,'of course, is continued outside of the bowl and within the combustion chamber of the furnace or heater.

The intense and complete combustion thus produced eliminates smoke and carbon deposits, minimizes fuel consumption, and gives a maximum efliciency with a resulting economy in the use of the oil or fluid fuel.

\Vhat I claim is: 1. An oil burner comprising a rotary sprayer head, means for delivery oil onto said head and air against said head, and a casing surrounding said head and having circumferential closely spaced relatively fixed circumferentially oblique vanes located in the plane of discharge from said head and affording air passages through which the commingled air and oil vapor will be discharged.

. 2. An oil burner comprising a rotary sprayer head, means for delivering oil onto said head and air against said head, and a casing surrounding said head and having circumferential closely spaced relatively fixed circumferentially oblique vanes located in the plane of discharge from said head and affording air passages through which the commingled air and oil vapor discharged from said head will be caused to pass, the -said casing having a top plate covering said head and causing the com- I mingled air and oil to pass outward through the above noted air passages, outward, against and between the fixed vanes thereof.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in further combination with a bowl, the bottom of which is below said sprayer head and casing and the rim of which surrounds said easing and extends above the air passages formed between the fixed vanes thereof.

lfAn oil burner comprising a sprayer head mounted to rotate on an approximately vertical axis and having propelling vanes,

' means for delivering'oil onto said sprayer head, and means for delivering air against the propeller vanes 9f said sprayer head to rotate the same by the action of air to be commingled with the oil vapor, in combination with a casing surrounding said sprayer head and having circumferentially spaced air outlet passages located in the plane of .discharge from said head, said propeller blades and air passages adjacent said latt er .noted blades'and between its axis and perimeter, and means for delivering oil onto the sprayer headopen at its perimeter for the i conduit leading}l lower plate of saidvhead. 6. An oil burner comp-rising a hollow discharge of oil and having circumferent ally spaced propelling vanes, a large air del very conduit opening against the under side of said sprayer head, an oil delivery axially through the lower portion of said ead and delivering onto the lower plate thereof, said head having a depending supporting spindle terminating in its lowerportion and in a conical step hearing, which, as well as the other bearin portions of said spindle are all locate within the nozzle portion of said oil dellvery conduit and thereby arranged to run in the oil that is being delivered to said head, and a casing surrounding said head and provided with circumferentially oblique spaced air outlet passages.

7. An oil} burner comprising a hollow sprayer head open at its perimeter for the dlscharge of oil and having circumferen- ,tially spaced propelling vanes, a large air delivery conduit opening against the under 7 side of said sprayer head, an oil delivery con- ,gluit leadin axially throu the lower portion of sai head and de lvering onto the lower plate thereof, said head having a depending supporting spindle terminating in its lower p rtion and ina conical step bearing which, as well as the other bearing portionsof said spindle are all located within the nozzle portion of said oil delivery conduit and thereby arranged to run in the oil that is being delivered to said head, and a casing surrounding said head and provided with circumferentially spaced air outlet passages, said air outlet passages and the propelling vanes on said head being oblique.in the same direction circumferentially of the burner.

8. An oil burner comprising a hollow sprayer head open at its perimeter for the discharge of oil and having circumferentially spaced propelling vanes depending from its rim portion, an air delivery conduit arranged to deliver air against the under side of said sprayer head, and an oil delivery conduit leading axially through the lower portion of said head and arranged to deliver oil onto the lower plate of said head.

which said sprayer head is provided with circumferentially spaced air passages and propelling vanes both in its upper and lower plates inward of its depending propelling vanes.

10. Thev structure defined in claim 8 in which said sprayer head is provided with circumferentially spaced air passages and propelling vanes both in its upper and lower plates inward of its depending propelling vanes, and in further combination with a casing enclosing said sprayer head and having circumferentially spaced air discharge passagesthat' are oblique inthe same circumferential direction as the depending propelling vanes on said head.

11. An oil burner com rising a sprayer head'mounted to rotate n a verticahaxis 9. The structure defined in claim 8 in l and provided with an axial air intake pas- 12. An oil burner comprising a flame bowl having a relatively large axial air intake passage, an oil delivery conduit including, an n right tubular nozzle axially arranged witlnn said air intake conduit and extendin' above the bottom of said bowl and provide at its upper end with a surrounding oil distributing plate, a rotary sprayer. head having a depending spind e journaled in said nozzle and lubricated by the oil dehyered therethrough, sa d sprayer head having a late with an axial air passage overlapped y the distributing plate of said nozzle, said spra or head at its rim portion having depending propelling vanes whereby said sprayer head will be rotated by the air delivered to the burner, and a casing enclosing said sprayer head and having substantially tangential circumferentially spaced air discharge passages.

13. An oil burner comprising a flame bowl having a relatively large axial air intake passage, an oil delivery conduit including an upright tubular nozzle axially arranged within said air intake conduit and extending above the bottom of said bowl and provided at its upper end with a surrounding oil distributing plate, a rotary sprayer head having a depending spindle journaled in said nozzle and lubrleated by the oil delivered therethrough, said sprayer head having a plate with an axial air passage overlapped by the distributing plate of said nozzle, said sprayer head at its rimportion having depending propelling vanes whereby said sprayer head will be rotated by the air delivered to the burner, a flame bowl through the bottom of which said air intake conduit opens axially, and a casing resting on the bottom of said bowl and enclosing said sprayer head and provided with circumferentially spaced air passages located below the upper ortion of said bowl.

In testimony whereo I aflix my signature.

ASHLEY C. BENNETT. 

